Summary of the volunteering day to remove invasive exotic species on the Vega Beach, Ribadesella (Asturias) on 12th November 2016.
On 12th November 2016, the Life+ARCOS team brought together around 60 volunteers on the Vega Beach to hold an activity day, with the aim of removing invasive exotic species from the dune space in the Vega Beach Special Area of Conservation, in the municipality of Ribadesella (Asturias).
The day started off cloudy with the odd drop of rain, but in the end the weather held out and the activity continued until 2 o’clock in the afternoon, when the rain started to fall more heavily.
After the introduction to the day and the presentation of the target species for removal: Paspalum secundatum (St. Augustine grass), Bidens aurea and various species of the Paspalum genus, the activity attendees were organised into groups, each distributed to different points along the dune system where there were registered patches of invasive species.
The participants were provided with jackets and gloves by COGERSA, the company that also set up waste containers on the boundaries of the work areas, where the plant waste could be left and re-used by the company in its composting plants.
With the help of the weeding tools and rakes, the participants were able to tackle a species that is particularly tricky to remove – St. Augustine grass – whose stolon stems spread along the entire secondary dune system, preventing other dune species from growing normally. The adaptation of this species to being trodden on (it is worth remembering that this invasive species was originally used for lawns), also favour its preponderance against dune species that are native to these environments, but that are less adapted to this kind of threat.
Precisely to avoid treading on the dune system, participants were able to examine the actions undertaken by the Life+ARCOS project, with the fitting of enclosures that will protect the dune systems during the planting phase of native species in these environments.
Some attendees to this activity day participated in the census of one of the population hubs of the catalogued species Linaria supina sub species maritima present in one of the action points for removing invasive species. The Life+ARCOS staff remained near the removal area to prevent any possible damage coming to this species.
The day ended with two containers filled with the three eliminated species, and the perception of all participants of the serious problem that biological invasions have in the effort to keep Cantabrian dune systems in a good state of conservation.
As a final note, the Life+ARCOS would like to extend its deepest thanks for the warm welcome given to these kinds of actions, revealing the awareness of citizens in terms of environmental conservation.
Many thanks to all participants, we hope to see you again in future editions.